4 literary masterpieces that are turning a century old this year
One of the most striking features about literature is its universality, and its ability to create a feeling of familiarity between the author and the reader, regardless of the circumstances. It has the power to cut through cultures, languages, time and unite people through the fundamental feeling of being human. It acts as a vessel to hold stories from the past, and yet somehow manages to bridge the gap of time. Over the course of the last century, countless literary masterpieces have been produced and have shaped world literature. Here are four of them which are soon to turn 100 years old.
‘Ulysses’ by Irish novelist, James Joyce
Regarded as one of the most influential authors of the 20th century, James’ seminal book titled ‘Ulysses’ was published by Shakespeare & Company in Paris, France, in 1922. The modernist novel became popular amongst the middle class as it followed the life of common people living in Dublin, Ireland. What made it stand out even more was that the narrative covered the happenings of a single day using experimental writing techniques, earthy humour as well as smart wordplay. .
‘The Waste Land’ by T.S. Eliot
‘The Waste Land’, a poem written by American poet, essayist and literary critic T.S. Eliot has been deemed by many as one of the most important works of poetry to have emerged in the last century. Published in 1922, Eliot had written it the year before after suffering a major mental breakdown. This poem has been a major part of syllabi pertaining to 20th century literary studies. It has been regarded as one of the finest reflections of mental illness portrayed through art.
‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ by Margery Williams
One of the most-loved children’s books to have ever been written, ‘The Velveteen Rabbit’ by British author Margery Williams will be completing a century this year. It is a heart-warming tale about a stuffed rabbit and his desire to become real through the love and wisdom of his owner. This classic story was illustrated by William Nicholson, and is equally loved by adults as it transports them to their childhood through gorgeous, luminous illustrations.
'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' by F. Scott Fitzgerald
F. Scott Fitzgerald’s satirical story about aging, 'The Curious Case of Benjamin Button' left transported readers to fascinating realms of reality. Safe to say, this tale about age actually aged pretty well as it entered the world of Hollywood through its adaptation starring Brad Pitt 90 years after its publication, in 2008. The protagonist of the book, Benjamin Button, suffers from a rare condition of aging backwords. It explores how the love for his special friend, Daisy, surpasses time and space, in this haunting story of the passing of time from youth to old age.